From Musa Muhammad Kutama, Calabar
Despite torrential rainfall in Cross River State, no fewer than 1,000 youths defied the rain to participate in the 2026 YOMA World Clean-Up exercise held across three locations in Calabar.
The exercise, organised with the support of UNICEF and implemented in collaboration with the University of Cross River State (UNICROSS) and youth-led organisations, was held at Marian Market, Beach Market in Calabar South, and White House Street.
The volunteers cleared refuse and plastic waste from the affected areas as part of efforts to promote environmental cleanliness and encourage young people to take greater responsibility for their communities.
Speaking during the exercise held on Saturday, the Acting Dean of Student Affairs, University of Cross River State, Dr Victor Ndifon, said the university was participating directly in the initiative for the first time through its Student Affairs Division.
Ndifon said the exercise provided an opportunity for young people to contribute to the development of the state, adding that many UNICROSS students across the three senatorial districts were willing to volunteer for similar environmental initiatives.
He said, “We have a lot of volunteers who are ready to make the environment a lot cleaner, to ensure that waste is properly disposed of and to reduce plastic waste across the state.”
The Acting Dean said the university would engage UNICEF on the possibility of extending similar activities to other parts of the state.
Also speaking, the State Coordinator of the Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI), Cross River State, Freedom Bassey, said about 1,000 youths participated in the exercise across the three locations.
Bassey said the participants were mobilised through partnerships with youth-led organisations across the state.
He said, “We are doing this as young people who don’t just want to sit back and wait for the government or just complain. We have left the complaint line.
“We believe that for society to be better, young people have a role to play, independent of government, and that is what we are doing.”
A volunteer and representative of Bagori Care Foundation, Blessing Alims, said the exercise demonstrated that young people could serve as agents of positive change in their communities.
She said the participants were not paid for the exercise but received transportation reimbursement.
A participant and UNICROSS volunteer, Eborty Christianah, said, “As young people, we have a responsibility to protect the environment we live in. Coming out despite the rain shows that we are ready to take action and not just complain about the condition of our communities. I believe this kind of initiative can encourage more young people to become responsible for keeping their surroundings clean.”
The organisers said the initiative was not intended to be limited to Calabar, expressing hope that similar youth-led environmental clean-up activities would be replicated in other parts of Cross River State.
